NGO urges mass police reports against Zakir

Two police reports urging the Malaysian authorities to stop controversial speaker Zakir Naik (above) from giving public lectures in universities or elsewhere have been lodged, and an NGO is calling for more to do so.

NGO Malaysian Tamilar Kural president David Marshel said Zakir's talks must be banned as they often "condemn and ridicule" other religions.

Marshel was commenting on Zakir, who is scheduled to speak at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Kedah, on April 18..

Although non-Muslims are invited to his lecture, Marshel said, "We know this is not going to be an ordinary lecture; he will show the superiority of Islam over non-Muslim religions by putting them down and in the process will ask non-Muslims to convert."

"He has done this before and he is going to do it in the coming days," Marshel added.

So far, two police reports have been lodged against Zakir, in Kuala Lumpur, by Sri Ganes Palaniapan, while another was in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, by Sinasamy Subramaniam.

On April 11, Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Cheng said the onus is on UUM to explain its invitation to Zakir to deliver a speech on its campus.

In response, deputy vice-chancellor associate professor Hendrik Lamsali said the programme, titled ‘Duty of a Muslim as a professional: Dr Zakir Naik’ is meant to be an academic discussion and attendance is not compulsory.

'Inciting hatred'

Marshel reminded all that Zakir is a "fugitive" as the Indian authorities wanted him to face charges for alleged money laundering, supporting terrorism, and using public funds for his own enrichment.

Zakir has denied the charges against him, and accusations, in Malaysia and abroad, that he preaches hate speech.

"In Malaysia, he has ridiculed other religions in an attempt to organise mass conversions.

" He is responsible in recent years for inciting hatred amongst the Muslims and non-Muslims," Marshel claimed.

"Because he is protected by certain sections of the Muslim society and some leaders in the present government, he has been emboldened to hurt and ridicule the non-Muslims," he added.

"Let us go out and stop Zakir from giving public lectures in the country. We can start by making police reports all over the country to stop him from giving his talk in UUM," Marshel said. - Mkini